Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(67)

“I had some paperwork I needed to complete.”

“Paperwork?”

“Yes.”

Disbelief was etched on Markham’s square face. “And that’s the only reason?”

He knew. Frank licked his dry lips. Someone had blabbed the news that he’d been down to the basement.

Now, what?

He cleared his throat, sternly reminding himself that he was Dr. Frank Talbot. He was more intelligent, more ambitious, and more suited for greatness than any other person in this idiotic organization.

Including the barbarian glaring at him as if he’d stolen the Crown Jewels.

“Once I heard that the guards were bringing in Cora Wilder, I decided I should stay,” he said in smooth tones.

“An interesting decision.” Markham stepped closer, trying to use his size to intimidate him. “Would you like to explain it to me?”

Frank arched a brow, puzzled by the question. “Obviously, I was afraid she might be in need of medical attention.”

“Ah.” A cold, humorless smile stretched the Director’s lips. “And that’s why you deliberately went against my orders for no one to enter her cell?”

Frank hid his annoyance. Who’d been snitching on him? Sinclair? The spineless worm who was in charge of the security cameras?

Could it have been the shifter female?

He gave a small shake of his head. It didn’t matter. Not now.

With enough cunning, he could salvage his position.

“Grant is no doubt a fine soldier, but he isn’t a trained doctor,” he attempted to reason with the condescending prick. “The female will be worthless if she dies from internal injuries your men might have unknowingly inflicted when they captured her.”

Unimpressed by his logic, the Director took a slow, thorough survey of the office. Almost as if he were searching for something.

“That’s why you took blood and swabs?”

Frank resisted the urge to glance toward the refrigerator. There was no way Markham could know where he’d hidden the specimens. Not unless the bastard could read minds.

“They’re a part of my exam,” he said with a small shrug. “I needed to make sure she wasn’t damaged by the drugs that were used to tranq her.”

The pale gaze slowly returned to Frank, the heavy features impossible to read.

“No longer.”

Frank stilled, sensing that the Director was referring to more than a bit of blood and saliva.

“Excuse me?”

Markham planted his hands on his hips in a familiar gesture that emphasized the bulge of his muscles and the gun at his hip.

“I want you to hand over any specimens you’ve taken, as well as your keys, and leave the building.”

Frank sucked in a shocked breath. “I don’t understand.”

“Then I’ll make it clear.” Markham pointed a thick finger in his face. “You’re fired.”

Was the man demented? He was a brilliant researcher. A genius. In comparison, the rest of the so-called scientists that the SAU hired were talentless hacks.

Only a complete idiot would fire him.

Or a man so insecure in his position of leadership that he couldn’t bear to have anyone in his employ that might undermine his authority.

“But-”

Frank bit off his protest as the Director muttered a low curse and reached into his pocket to pull out his cellphone. He pressed it to his ear.

“What?” His blunt features clenched with sudden fury, his pale eyes glittering in the overhead light. “Shit. Put the building on lockdown, I’m on my way.” Struggling to regain his stoic composure, the Director shoved the phone back in his pocket and glared at Frank. “You will stay until the lockdown is over, then I want your ass off my property.”

Frank felt a genuine stab of fear. Clearly something bad had happened.

Was the shifter out of her cell?

Or worse, had her Pack managed to follow her to the supposedly secret headquarters?

Good lord. Even now, the place could be crawling with the beasts.

“What’s going on?” he demanded.

Ignoring Frank’s question as was typical, Markham headed across the office.

“Don’t leave this office until I return,” he warned Frank before he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Bastard,” Frank breathed, not hesitating to rush to the refrigerator to pull out the various specimens he had hidden in a cooler.

Then, returning to his desk, he unlocked the bottom drawer to pull out the private files that detailed the research he’d done over the past three years. He couldn’t take all of them. Not without a damned moving truck. But he could take those that had his most promising results.

Tucking them in his briefcase, he unlocked yet another drawer, pulling out a small pistol. He was a scientist, not a soldier, but he could pull a trigger.

And there was no way he was going to be trapped in this office without knowing what the hell was going on.

Besides, the Director had made it clear it was time for them to cut ties.

It was the perfect opportunity for him to move on to bigger and better things.

As long as he got out of the building alive.

****

Soren inched his way along the ventilation shaft that ran the length of the ceiling.

His first thought had been to charge into the basement and rescue Cora before the guards could stop him. Unfortunately, one glimpse into the long room where Cora was being held revealed a guard standing directly in front of her cell.